After only seven months at the helm of Formula One’s glamour team, Marco Mattiacci has been replaced by Maurizio Arrivabene as Ferrari’s team principal.
Mattiacci replaced Stefano Dominicali as team boss in April, after the latter resigned in the wake of Ferrari’s poor start to the 2014 campaign. Not only did the team have a poor start to the season, it also ended it rather miserably, with Fernando Alonso and Kimi Raikkonen finishing ninth and tenth, respectively, at the final race of the year.
After the race Mattiacci conceded that it had been “a difficult season”, with work on a “competitive car” in 2015 already underway. These may have been his last words as Ferrari team principal, because word on his departure broke less than 24 hours later.
His replacement, Arrivabene, is no stranger to Formula One or Ferrari, having been vice-president of global communications for Ferrari sponsor Phillip Morris, as well as representing the F1 Commission since 2010.
“Throughout his time with Philip Morris, Arrivabene has been closely involved in the partnership with Ferrari, both in Maranello and on the world’s racing circuits,” a Ferrari statement read.
Ferrari Chairman Sergio Marchionne heaped the praises on the team’s latest acquisition.
“Maurizio has a unique wealth of knowledge: he has been extremely close to the Scuderia for years and, as a member of the F1 Commission, is also keenly aware of the challenges we are facing. He has been a constant source of innovative ideas focused on revitalisation of Formula 1. I am delighted to have been able to secure his leadership for our racing activities.”
As a token of appreciation, Marchionne thanked Mattiacci for his service to Ferrari over the past 15 years and wished him well in his future endeavours, not indicating whether Ferrari is permanently cutting ties with its former North American boss, or not.
